MEPs adopt tough stance on climate change

The EU must now lead other developed nations with solid action to back up its words, said Sir Robert Atkins MEP, after MEPs recently voted through the parliament’s Climate Change report.

The recommendations of the parliament’s Special Committee on Climate Change are based on hearings with experts and scientific studies.

Contained within the report are calls for the EU, and other industrialised countries, to reduce CO2 emissions by 80 per-cent by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. There are also proposals to replace fossil fuels in the long term with energy from renewable sources and also for all new buildings to be energy neutral after 2020.

The committee’s proposals, along with the climate change and energy package that was adopted last December, now give the EU a clear position to take to the UN climate talks in Copenhagen at the end of 2009.

Sir Robert said:

“The EU has led by example with the climate change package but only our actions, and not our words, will encourage other industrial countries to follow suit.

“We need to make it clear to all countries that reducing emissions can be good for growing an economy and turning it green. However this will only work if we provide incentives for our businesses to invest in green technologies and practices.”